Communication and Media Studiesat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $47,368/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $660K; scenarios range from $582K to $685K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
While the career paths for a Communication degree can seem broad, your success here is deeply tied to the UVA brand itself. You aren't just earning a degree; you're gaining entry into a powerful, well-connected alumni network, particularly strong in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia corridor. This proximity creates a direct pipeline into competitive roles in public affairs, political consulting, and corporate communications for major government contractors and D.C.-based firms. The program's reputation for producing sharp, analytical thinkers means employers recruit for potential, not just specific technical skills. That high AI risk score? It highlights a critical truth: your value won't be in just writing press releases, but in strategic thinking and networking. Your most important move is to secure a D.C.-area internship by your junior year to leverage that network before you even graduate.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia
What does a 53/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
At 53/100, University of Virginia-Main Campus's Communication and Media Studies program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus one of the best schools for Communication and Media Studies?
Among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.